Campaigners demand the UK protect girls’ education

Education is not just a right — it’s a lifeline.

LONDON, ENGLAND – 19th May 2025: Campaigners from Send My Friend to School stage a protest outside the Education World Forum, calling on the UK government to reverse cuts to international education aid. (Photo by Andy Aitchison)

It’s the most powerful tool we have to end poverty. But right now, millions of children are being shut out of classrooms — and UK aid cuts are making it worse.

Campaigners from Send My Friend to School gathered outside the Education World Forum — the world’s largest meeting of education ministers — to sound the alarm: UK aid cuts will push millions more children out of school.

As the UK hosts this global event, the irony is stark. Behind the talk of building inclusive, resilient education systems lies a devastating truth:

🚨 251 million children are out of school
🚨 7 in 10 kids in low-income countries can’t read a simple story by age 10
🚨 UK aid to education has plummeted — from 13.5% of its aid budget in 2013 to just 3.5% in 2023

And now, it’s set to get even worse:

📉 2.2 million children could lose access to school
📉 Education funding may be slashed by 73% from 2019 levels
📉 Entire programmes face cancellation, government sources admit

This isn’t just a budget line — it’s a broken promise to the world’s most vulnerable children.

Despite its legacy as a global education leader — supporting 15.6 million children between 2015–2020 — the UK is now backing away when its leadership is needed most.

Emma Wagner, Co-Chair of Send My Friend to School, said:

“The UK has a proud record on girls’ education, but aid cuts have hit the sector hard. Inviting Education Ministers around the world to the World Education Forum at the same time as suggesting UK aid to education will be drastically cut, is hypocritical to say the least. Now is not the time to walk away. Investing in global education remains one of the smartest, most strategic commitments the UK can make.”

(Photo by Andy Aitchison)

The UK has also played a vital role in global initiatives like the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and Education Cannot Wait (ECW) — programmes that reach children in some of the world’s toughest crisis zones. As we highlight in our latest policy report, ‘Invest in my Friends’ Learning’, continued UK support is essential as both prepare for their 2026 replenishments.

This is a global emergency. Without urgent action, the world’s most vulnerable children will be left behind—permanently.